Credit Card from Linux Foundation to Benefit Community Events

Emblazoned with the Linux mascot, a new Tux credit card from the non-profit Linux Foundation will be issued in co-operation with Visa and the US bank UMB.

The foundation will receive $50 for each card activated plus a percentage of sales with all money going directly into community events and travel costs for members. Jim Zemlin, CEO at LF, explains the idea: "Some people write code while others work on marketing or defending Linux. The Linux-branded credit card is an easy way for anyone to contribute to the growth of Linux and identify themselves as supporters of the community by carrying Tux in their pocket."

Paying with Tux is not a new idea. The Linux Fund has been collecting donations via credit card payments for open-source projects for around ten years and according to their website, current beneficiaries include Gnash, Inkscape and the BSD Fund. At the Linuxtag 2009, Linux Fund representatives admitted they were feeling the effects of the global recession, but their belief in the credit card payment donation idea remained firm.

Currently available to US residents only, plans are being made to expand the scheme to other countries soon.

The Linux Foundation got positive results from its first ever End User Summit in New York October 14 and 15. Its concept of "end user" ended up including not only private users but many enterprises and organizations.